The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has stopped providing special protection for former Vice President Kamala Harris. This decision came shortly after President Donald Trump canceled her Secret Service detail, which had been extended by former President Joe Biden. The LAPD’s temporary protection ended on Saturday, following criticism from within the department that officers were being diverted from crime suppression duties in the San Fernando Valley.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will continue to provide some security resources for Harris, but it remains unclear how long this arrangement will last. The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union representing LAPD officers, expressed relief that officers could return to their regular duties, criticizing the use of taxpayer money for Harris’s protection. “Every now and then common-sense prevails,” the union stated, suggesting Harris could fund her own security.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass had directed the LAPD to assist the CHP temporarily, emphasizing the importance of Harris’s safety. Bass called Trump’s revocation of the Secret Service detail “another act of revenge” and pledged to work with California Governor Gavin Newsom to ensure Harris’s safety. Harris, a former California senator and attorney general, is set to begin a multi-city book tour for her memoir, ‘107 Days,’ on September 24, with stops in London and Toronto.
According to NBC Los Angeles, a recent Secret Service threat assessment found no credible threats against Harris, leading to the decision not to extend her protection beyond the standard six-month period for former vice presidents. Despite this, the decision to end LAPD’s protection has sparked debate over the allocation of police resources and the political implications of security decisions.
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